Twenty10’s new boss is Paradise

LGBTIQ youth support group and crisis accommodation service Twenty10 has named Brett Paradise as its new executive director successor to replace the outgoing Rebecca Reynolds.

Paradise is expected to officially commence duties on January 7, 2014.

With degrees in Performing Arts and Community Sector Management, Paradise began his career in industrial relations and then community legal centres before moving into youth and family support work.

For the past eight years, Paradise has served as manager of delivery and client services for the Northern Rivers Social Development Council and was responsible for the delivery of a number of successful programs from homelessness, to alcohol and drug misuse and abuse, anti bullying, juvenile justice and sexual health.

In the past three years, Paradise also co-authored the Northern Rivers Regional Youth Plan and developed the Northern Rivers Regional Youth Advisory Council. Paradise has been co-president on the Yfoundations board, the NSW Youth Homelessness peak body, for the last four years.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be taking up this position and working with a team that engage in such important work everyday.” Paradise said.

“I’m also keenly aware that Rebecca Reynolds will be a hard act to follow and I thank her for leaving Twenty10 in such a great position for the future.”

Reynolds had acted as Twenty10’s managing director since 2008 and had helped oversee its expansion in services and relocation to larger headquarters at Chippendale.

Reynolds’ departure was made public in early October, only a few weeks before Twenty10 was named NSW Youth Service of the Year for 2013 at the Youth Action Awards held in Sydney. It was announced this week Reynolds would be joining the National LGBTI Health Alliance as its executive director from next February onwards.

Cristyn Davies and Atari Metcalf, co-chairs of Twenty10, paid tribute to the contribution of Reynolds while welcoming Paradise into the position.

“Twenty10 thank Rebecca Reynolds for her dedication for the past 5 years and welcome Brett to the family,” the co-chairs said in a statement.

“Brett brings with him a depth of knowledge of the youth and community sector and a great sense of enthusiasm to continue to make a real difference in our communities.”

Established in 1982 in Darlinghurst in response to a growing gay and lesbian homeless population, over the past thirty years Twenty10 has now grown to include statewide support for people of diverse gender identities, sexualities and sexes, their families and communities.